Beer pipe cleaning apparatus



NOV. 9, 1937. (3l Q SMITH 2,098,525

BEER PIPE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed 0G12. 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2/l 25 2z 24 q Z5 50 5'/ A Z6 54 32 /5 /6 Z7 55 2'@ S o l l T --T @3. v @fm a., A? f A l i- INVENTOR.-

A TTORNE Y Nov. 9,v 1937. c. c. SMITH 2,098,525

BEER PIPE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 9, 1937 Unirse STATES scans PATENT GtFliE 3 Claims.

vThis invention has to do with methods and apparatus for cleaning coils, and is concerned primarily with the cleaning of coils that are coml monly availed of in the cooling of beer and sim- 5* ilar beverages.

It is common practice today in the dispensing of beverages to employY coils that pass through a cooling medium whereby the temperature of the beverage dispensed is lowered.

' Continued use of such coils, particularly with such beverage as beer, necessitates the cleaning thereof at more or less periodic intervals, and this invention is concerned with the provision of a F method for cleaning such beer coils as Well as l apparatus for carrying out the method under actual service conditions.

'I'he invention has in View, as one of its broader objectives, the provision of a method of cleaning coils in which the several steps constituting the entire cleaning system are carried out under the influence of compressed air. With this arrangement, a single source of supply of air under pressure may be availed of, together with suitable connections to carry out the several steps necessary to complete the cleaning operations.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide in the cleaning of coils the step of applying air under pressure to the coils to return yany beer or other beverage therein to its. original container, whereby loss of this beverage present in the coils is obviated.

In practicing this step, under actual service conditions, the invention contemplates the use o-f a compressed air reservoir with which are associated suitable conduit connections and valve controls. whereby the compressed air may be properly app-lied to the coils to force the beer or other beverage therein back into the barrel or other container.

40 Associated with. this chess of the invention is another more detailed objective which is to provide in apparatus of the character above de scribed means for indicating when substantially all the beverage in the coils has been returned to the barrel, so that the application of compressed air thereto may be discontinued. If the compressed air were applied after the beer or other beverage had been removed from the coils,

50 it might cause some dirt or foreign material in the coilsl to be forced into the barrels, which isa highly undesirable condition. This condition is avoided by availing of a tubular conduit as a connection between the coil and the barrel,

55 which conduit includes a transparent section substantially adjacent to the barrel. When foam shows at this section it is indicative of the fact that substantially all of the beer or beverage in the coils has been returned to the barrel.

Another object of the instant invention ist@ 5 pro-vide in the cleaning of coils the step of forcing a cleaning solution through the coils under the effects of compressed air. In accordance with this invention, the same reservoir of compressed air is availed of to force a cleaning solution, such 10 as caustic soda, or other material having the desired cleaning properties, through the coils.

As this invention contemplates a portable apparatus which is characterized as being a single unit, a more detailed object in View is to associate the supply of cleaning solution with the air reservoir so that the two together constitute a unit and are provided with tubular connections and a proper arrangement of valvular controls so that the compressed air may be applied to the 20 cleaning solution or not, as occasion demands.

Another more important object of this inven tion is to provide in the cleaning of coils the step of ushing the coils to cleanse all the cleaning solution therefrom. This step is effected by con- 25 necting the coils at one end with a suitable source of water supply and at the other end with a drain. The water may be continuously ushed through the coils, and another detailed object o-f the invention is related to this phase of the 30 cleaning system in that this invention proposes the use of a drain connection which includes a transparent section whereby the condition of the liquid passing therethrough may be observed.

Another object of this invention, which is of paramount importance, is the provision, in a beer cleaning system, of the step of applying water and air to the coils intermittently, with a resulting pneumatic hammering or pulsating effect on the coils, which results in a loosening and cleaning Vof scales and other foreign matter which may have adhered to the inner walls of the coils. n

In attaining this end suitable connection between the reservoir of compressed air and the lines leading to the source of water supply are provided, together with valves controlling the admission of air into the line leading from the water supply to the coils. The operator may avail of these valves to intersperse injections of air into the water as it ovvs through the beer coils with a resulting pulsating or hammering effect.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- 55 vide apparatus of the character described which is designed to provide for the cleaning of any desired number of beer coils which may be connected together in series.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a method which involves first, a return of the beer or similar beverage to its original container under the influence of compressed air; second, the application of a cleaning solution to the beer coils under the influence of compressed air; thirdly, a flushing of the cleaning solution from the coils;

and finally the application of water and com-r pressed air intermittently to provide pulsating or hammering effects. All of these three last mentioned steps may be applied to the coils in reverse directions and the invention also includes,

as an important part thereof the apparatus for'` carrying out the above steps.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the `following description'and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the beer coil cleaning system made in accordance with the precepts of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detailed showing in side elevation of the transparent section included in the tubular line extending from the coils to the container,

Figure 3 is a perspective showing somewhat diagrammatic, bringing out the manner in which the apparatus is operatively connected with the beer coils for the purpose of returning the beverage therein to its original container,

Figure 4 is a side view also largely diagrammatic, showing the hookup of the apparatus of the beer coils when the cleaning solution is to be forced therethrough,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but developing the hookup for the flushing and pulsating operations, and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 5, showing the manner in which the apparatus may be connected with the coils to cause a flushing thereof in a reverse direction.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein Alike reference characters denote corresponding parts, a reservoir for compressed air is shown in the form of a tank I0 which may include a connection at II for connecting it with a line I2 extending to an air pump indicated generally at I3, which may be of any preferred type, which will supply air to the tank I0 under pressure, and build up the pressure therein.Y As the apparatus is intended to be portable, the tank- I0 may be provided with handles, as shown at I4. Obviously, the inventionis not to be limited in this respect as any suitable grips for manipulative purposes may be employed. The tank I0 may-be provided with. ,a pressure gauge shown at I5 and also a safety valve designated. I6. Under conditions of actual practice, it has been found that the pressure of between 60 to 70 lbs. in the tank I0 affords satisfactory results. Hence, the safety valve may be set to relieve pressure in the tank IIJ when the pressure has exceeded some point above 70 lbs.

Aiiixed to the cylindrical wall of the tank I0 are a pair of brackets I1 which carry a container I 8 that constitutes a source of supply for the cleaning solution, which may be a solution of caustic soda of a desired strength. Obviously, the present invention is not to be limited to the use of any particular cleaning solution as there are available on the market several products which have the desired cleaning properties.

At its upper end the container I8 is provided with a cap I9 which is removable, such as by being threaded to the container I8. Upstanding from the cap i9 is a section of tubing 20 which is preferably flexible, and this section is connected to another section 2I of flexible tubing by a detachable coupling, shown at 22. The

l Vsection 2| connects with a valve 23 of the wellknown needle type that is carried by a one-way check valve 24.

Extending from one side of the one-way check valve 24 is a tubular section 25 that is connected by a T-coupling at 26 with a rigid pipe section 21 that extends to the tank II). A valve is shown at 28 as being included in the section 21, and is also of the well-known needle type. This valve 28 is effective to control admission of air from the tank IG to the tubular section 25. The latter is also provided with a control valve at 29 and the rigid tubular section 25 has connected to its free end,'as shown at 3l! a flexible tubular member 3l that is designed for connection with an appropriate form of water supply such as the usual faucet.

Extending from the opposite side of the oneway check valve 24 is another rigid tubular section 32 that is provided with a control valve at 33. Y Connected to the section 32 by means of a T-coupling at 34 is another rigid section 35 that upstands from the tank Il). This section 35 includes a valve at 3E which controls the admission of air from the tank IB into the section 32.

A flexible tubing designated 31 is connected as shown at 38 to the section 32, and this tubing 31 includes a transparent section designated 39. The flexible tubing 31 is designed for connection at its free end with the dispensing tap of a bar, the beer coils of which are to be cleaned by the apparatus.

Carried by an elbow 4I) which is connected with the lower end of the container I8 is a control valve 4I and extending from this valve @I is another exible tubing 42 which at its end is designed for connection with one of the dispensing taps of a bar. f

The apparatus also includes `a section of flexible tubing designated G3 that includes a coil` at 44 of transparent material. It is the section 43 which is intended to connect one ofthe dispensing taps with a drain,.whle the coils are being flushed, or subjected to the pneumatic hammering. This same section may be availed of to connect the coils to the barrels when. the beverage in the coils is being returned thereto. Referring more particularly to Figure 3 an ordinarybar is indicated somewhat diagrammatically and referred to generally by the reference character -B. Such a bar-may include coils Cl and C2 which are 4`provided with dispensing taps designated T1 and T2, respectively. l

In the present instance the apparatus is shown as it is used in cleaning a set of two coils. Obviously, it is not to be limited in this respect as the s et which the apparatus cleans may include any number of coils. Ordinarily, the coils C1 and C2 are connected with beer barrels A1 and A2 by a line shown at 45 as detachably connected to the coils by a coupling indicated at 46.

When the apparatus shown in Figure l is to be availed of for the cleaning of the coils C1 and C2,

the line 45 is first disconnected from the barrel A1 and coil C1 and the tubing 43 substituted in its place. The tubing 31 is then connected to the tap T1 and, assuming that all of the control valves of the apparatus are closed, valve 36 is opened to admit compressed air through the tubing 31 to the coil Cl to force the beer contained therein downwardly through the section 43 into the barrel A1. When foam shows at 44 the supply of compressed air is cut oi as substantially all the beer has been removed from the coil C1. This operation may be again repeated on the coil C2 to remove the beverage from this coil.

It is notable that it is not always necessary to begin the cleaning operation with this removal of the beer from the coils. Very often the owners of taprooms and like places do not regard the saving of the beer in these coils as of suiicient impartance to warrant the use of this first step of the method. In that event it may be eliminated.

After the beer has been removed from the coils C1 and C2, these are joined in series by a connecting member shown at 41 shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The line 43 is now connected to the tap T2 and may lead to any suitable drain or other means of disposal.

The tubing 42 is now connected with the tap Tl and, assuming all of the valves of the apparatus to be closed, the valves 28, 23 and 4I are opened to cause the compressed air in the tank I to force the cleaning solution in the container I8 through the coils C1 and C2. If it is desired to force this cleaning solution through the coils in a reverse direction, the section 42 may be connecte-d to the tap T2, while the tubing 43 is connected to the tap T1. The remainder of the operation remains the same.

After the cleaning solution in the container I8 has been properly applied to the coils Cl and C2, the hookup of the apparatus is again changed. As shown in Figure 5, the tubing 31 is now connected to the tap T1, While the tubing 43 remains connected to the tap T2. Assuming that all of the valves of the apparatus are closed, the valves 29 and 33 are first opened to provide for the ushing of the coils. This flushing is carried out by the water which is conducted from the faucet, as shown, by the tubing 3l and 32 to the coils and therethrough to the drain by the tubing 43. This flushing operation may also be carrie-d out in a reverse direction, in which event the hookup would be as shown in Figure 6, in which event the tubing 31 is connected to the tap T2, while the tubing 43 is connected to the tap T1.

When it is desired to provide the pneumatic hammering or pulsating eiects the valve 35 may be opened by the operator to intersperse air into the water as it passes to the coils. This admission of air is under the accurate control of the operator, who may avail of the transparent section 39 to ascertain the exact condition of the air and water as applied to the coils. The eiect of this pulsating action is to loosen the scales or other foreign matter which may adhere to the Walls of the coils, and provides for a thorough cleaning thereof. This pulsating action may also be provided in a reverse direction, in Which event the hookup will be as shown in Figure 6.

The presence of the one-Way check valve 24 is important. It is of a well-known construction and is effective to prevent a backing up of water to the tubing 3| when air is admitted from the tank l D into the line 32 by the valve 36 and under pressure in excess of the water pressure in line 3 I While a specic embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact methods and apparatus described because various modiiications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice, within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. Apparatus of the character described, comprising an air reservoir, means for supplying air under pressure to the reservoir, a line adapted to be connected at one end to a source of water supply and at the other end to a coil to be cleaned, a pair of conduits extending from the reservoir to the line, means for controlling the flow of air through said conduits, and a tubular member extending from said line at a point intermediate the conduits and including a valve.

2. Apparatus of the character described, comprising an air reservoir, means for supplying air under pressure to the reservoir, a pair of conduits upstanding from the reservoir, a line adapted to be connected at one end to a source of water supply and at the other end to a coil to be cleaned, said line being connected to said upstanding conduits, a container carried by the air reservoir, a tubing extending from said container to the said line at a point intermediate the upstanding conduits, valves in each of said conduits, a valve in said tubing, valves in said line at points adjacent to said conduits, a tubing extending from the container to a coil to be cleaned, and a valve in said tubing controlling the ow of cleaning solution thereto.

3. Apparatus of the character described, cornprising an air reservoir, means for supplying air under pressure to the reservoir, a pair of conduits upstanding from the reservoir, a line adapted to be connected at one end to a source of water supply and at the other end to a coil to be cleaned, said line being connected to said upstanding co-nduits, a container carried by the air reservoir, a tubing exten-ding from said container to the said line at a point intermediate the upstanding conduits, valves in each of said conduits, a valve in said tubing, valves in said line at points adjacent to said conduits, said line including a transparent section, anda tubing extending from the container and including a valve.

CLARENCE C. SMITH. 

